PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL
BE NO PRICE NOR VAT INCREASE ON EXISTING STOCK UNTIL
EXHAUSTED. ALL NEW STOCK WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE NEW PRICES
FROM JANUARY 1st 2012.

SPA
CROFT MODELS UPDATE: 13th January 2014

The master
for the Morris 25 Coupe has been completed (see below), and
I will be sending it for casting very shortly

Models can be reserved for delivery
when available, and no deposit is required. Please email me
at spacroft@aol.com
or telephone on 017723 871780

SPA CROFT MODELS HAS BEEN SUPPLYING THE MODEL COLLECTOR WITH
HIGH QUALITY MODELS SINCE 1984, SPECIALISING IN WHITE METAL
MODELS OF MAINLY BRITISH AND AMERICAN CARS.

WE ARE ONE OF THE UK'S PRINCIPAL DEALERS, AND AS COLLECTORS
OURSELVES, WE ARE FULLY SYMPATHETIC WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
COLLECTOR, OFFERING SERVICE & CUSTOMER CARE SECOND TO NONE. WE
ARE A MAIL ORDER COMPANY WITH 27 YEARS EXPERIENCE OF SHIPPING
MODELS ANYWHERE IN THE UK, AND WORLDWIDE.

MODELS ARE NORMALLY DESPATCHED WITHIN 24 HOURS* OF RECEIPT OF
PAYMENT, BY RECORDED DELIVERY FIRST CLASS POST (INLAND), OR
ROYAL MAIL AIRMAIL SMALL PACKET OVERSEAS. AN INSURED SERVICE IS
AVAILABLE AT AN EXTRA COST.

WE NORMALLY CARRY THE FULL RANGES OF LANSDOWNE, BROOKLIN, IPV,
AND BUICK COLLECTION MODELS, AND OUR STOCK IS REPLENISHED ON A
REGULAR BASIS.

IF YOU PREFER TO
ORDER BY TELEPHONE, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL ON 01773 872780,

OR IF OUTSIDE THE
UK, ON +44 (0)1773 872780.

Last updated 7th December 2009

WHAT ARE WHITE METAL MODELS?

I
am often asked, "what are white metal models, and why are they
so expensive?". To answer this it is necessary to explain the
production of white metal models. Spa Croft Models, and the
other white metal model manufacturers, generally produce models
which are not considered commercially viable by the diecast
manufacturers such as Corgi, as they often have a limited
appeal. The metal used in the die casting process is a hard
metal, and can only be cast in steel dies. The tooling costs
are, therefore, extremely high, and because of this, the
manufacturer has to be sure that his investment will be
recouped. Subjects, therefore have to have a wide appeal, and be
capable of being produced in a variety of forms and liveries,
with little, or no alteration. Plastic is used to produce many
of the smaller items such as radiator grilles, bumpers etc., and
interiors, because this is also cheaper. Generally the only none
metal parts used in white metal models are rubber for the tyres,
and acetate for the windows. Everything else is metal which
contributes to the weight of the model and its overall
impression of quality.

Whilst the production of white metal models is still not cheap,
because the metal used has a low melting point, rubber moulds
can be used to cast the models, by means of centrifugal casting,
and it is this process that is much cheaper than die casting,
because tooling costs are much less. "Why is the end product so
much more expensive?", I hear you ask. There are several
reasons. Because of the limited appeal of many of the subjects
of white metal models, for instance, they may only be known in
the UK, and therefore have no interest world wide, the recovery
of tooling costs is spread over a smaller number of units, very
often no more than 600 pieces. Each model is also hand built,
and hand finished, and in some cases, hand polished. This is a
very labour intensive part of the production of white metal
models, and because production is wholly in the UK (or America
and Europe), the white metal manufacturers cannot benefit from
the much cheaper foreign labour available to our colleagues in
the diecast model industry.

"Why should I buy white metal models then", you may ask. Because
you are getting a special model which more often than not no one
else produces. None of the models produced by Spa Croft Models
is currently available in 1/43rd scale from any other
manufacturer, die cast or white metal. White metal models are
very often more accurate and have more detail than their die
cast counterparts, although the die cast manufacturers are now
recognising the demands of the discerning collector, and things
are definitely improving; the finish of white metal models is of
a greater quality because they are handbuilt; your collection
will be more unique because there are fewer examples of each
model around, and I suppose, to be a little light hearted, you
will not be filling you cabinets as quicky, because you will be
buying less of the more expensive models, unless of course you
are a lottery winner. Ultimately, the value of your collection
may increase more, because of the desirability of these little
gems, but that's a bonus. Collecting is for the fun of it, and
the intrinsic value of your collection.

Happy collecting.

MORRIS 25
First Build.

We have
now received the first batch of castings for our mew model, the Morris 25.
This is a quick build to check all the parts are there, and to
ensure they all fit. A little will be required before they go
out. I have painted this in matt black for quickness, and also
to highlight all the separate parts, most of which will be
bright plated (the wheels, apart from the hub caps, will be body
colour). The model will be available in four colour
schemes: Sporting Blue, Grey, Black (Limited issue of 50 models
in the Le Car Noir
range), and British Standard Royal Blue (The finish of the
restored vehicle; (Limited to 25 pieces). Price is expected to
be around £100, and hopefully will be available August/September. You can reserve a model by emailing me (
spacroft@aol.com . If the email link doesn't work, just type
my email address in the email.) or telephoning on 01773 872780.

Illustrated below is the Spa Croft Model range of models.
Production is now beginning to get back to normal levels, so our
products should start to become more readily available. If you
have ordered any of our models, or wish to place a new order ,
please
e-mail, phone (01773 872780), or write to Spa Croft Models
98, High Street, Tibshelf, Derbys DE55 5NU

Many of our customers have asked if the models we produce are
available in black. To satisfy this demand, we have decided to
produce a parallel range of our models, but produced only in
black. This range will be identified by the name Le Car Noir,
and the number will be limited to 50 models of each car. The
whole range of Spa Croft Models will be included eventually, but
at the moment only four models have been produced, as
illustrated below. The Austin A70 Hampshire will also be
available in all black.

Le Car Noir

Due to collector
demand, we have created a sub range within the Spa Croft Models
collection, of the standard issues finished in all black. To
date, five models have been issued in this colour, as
illustrated below, soon to be joined by the Austin A70
Hampshire. They will be a limited issue, up to a maximum of 50
models.